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Date:

January 31, 1814

Extent:

3p

Summary:

This is a letter dated January 31, 1814, from Andrew Jackson at Fort Strother to John Cocke in Knoxville. Jackson sends this military order during the War of 1812, telling Cocke not to march his army until he has weapons for them. He gives his opinion about the dismissal of a general named Ratliff and the seizure of his property.

yours of the 16th Inst. [Instant] I have received you had reported to me that the time of service of Colo. [Colonel] Lillard s reg't [regiment] would expire on the 14th Inst. [Instant]— They were ordered to return on the 12th and were no doubt near Knoxville previous to the reciept [receipt] of your letter requesting me to detain the arms that were in his possession —

You will use every exertion to have your men armed — They are a useless burthen to the government without arms and need not be marched into the field unless you can procure them.

It appears from your letter of the 10th Inst. [Instant] that old Ratliff is dismissed, his property of course must have been given up — that being the case nothing now remains but to restore the property of the whooping boy & [unclear: Duck ]

I have not time to reply to your letter in full at this time — I will barely remark, that altho [although] I had some suspisions [suspicions] against Ratlif , yet neither the papers found in his or Catawba 's possession or any thing I could

learn respecting his conduct would Justify me in arresting him — and if the proff [proof] had been sufficient to arrest him, it would not Justify a convescation [confiscation] of his property — or a seesure [seizure] thereof —

On the arrival of the troops at Ross 's the commanding officer will report to me at which point they will receive my orders —